Richard Rae

A six-wicket haul for Jofra Archer, to go with the five he took in the first innings, left Sussex favourites to win their Specsavers Division Two championship match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.

The 22-year-old fast bowler Archer shouldered the burden for a Sussex attack deprived of the services of South Africa international seamer Vernon Philander, who rolled an ankle in the field during the morning session.

With fellow South African David Wiese unable to bowl more than a handful of overs due to a stomach strain, Archer (6-70) and left-arm spinner Danny Briggs (3-40) produced outstanding efforts to give their side a good chance of securing a second successive championship win.

Sussex bowler Jofra Archer said: “The wicket didn’t change much, you just had to be consistent with your line and length. The odd ball did something but consistency was key.

“Briggsy [Danny Briggs] had the holding role and he did very well, picking up wickets as well. He had a good day with the bat too, and hopefully he’ll keep going tomorrow.

“I’m a bit tired now, but we have a two-week break coming up and the coach said if we leave everything out there we’d be rewarded with a rest!

“There’s talk about the seven year residential qualification [for England] being reduced to four years, hopefully that will be the case. But honestly, I just want to keep putting in performances for Sussex and let both [West Indies and England] come to me rather than me go to them.”

The morning session had seen Barbados-born Archer have Paul Horton caught behind off a brutal lifter and pin Ned Eckersley leg before with a well-pitched up delivery which beat the batsman for pace.

Colin Ackermann was given out caught behind down the legside off Chris Jordan, but the biggest blow for the home side was the loss of in-form captain Mark Cosgrove, who went back to a delivery from Briggs, missed and was palpably leg before.

Shortly after lunch Pettini got his bat down on an Archer yorker but was unable to prevent the ball rolling back on to his off-stump.

Another quick, straight bouncer then accounted for Harry Dearden, the ball flicking the batsman’s glove on its way through to the wicket-keeper.

Briggs dismissed Tom Wells in extraordinary fashion, putting up his right hand and deflecting a firmly hit lofted straight drive into the air for Archer, at mid-on, to take a simple catch.

Raine edged a straight delivery from Briggs into the hands of Jordan at slip, and Clint McKay, having been horribly dropped by Wiese off Briggs, edged Archer into the slips where Finch held a smart low catch to his left.

Leicestershire’s final pairing of Dieter Klein and Zak Chappell then fought hard to extend the Foxes lead to 241 before Klein was yorked by Archer.

Earlier in the day, Philander and Briggs extended their tenth wicket partnership to 83, a county record for Sussex against Leicestershire, eclipsing the 80 compiled by John Vinsett and Harry Butt at Aylestone Road in 1909.

A six-wicket haul for Jofra Archer, to go with the five he took in the first innings, left Sussex favourites to win their Specsavers Division Two championship match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.

The 22-year-old fast bowler Archer shouldered the burden for a Sussex attack deprived of the services of South Africa international seamer Vernon Philander, who rolled an ankle in the field during the morning session.

With fellow South African David Wiese unable to bowl more than a handful of overs due to a stomach strain, Archer (6-70) and left-arm spinner Danny Briggs (3-40) produced outstanding efforts to give their side a good chance of securing a second successive championship win.

Sussex bowler Jofra Archer said: “The wicket didn’t change much, you just had to be consistent with your line and length. The odd ball did something but consistency was key.

“Briggsy [Danny Briggs] had the holding role and he did very well, picking up wickets as well. He had a good day with the bat too, and hopefully he’ll keep going tomorrow.

“I’m a bit tired now, but we have a two-week break coming up and the coach said if we leave everything out there we’d be rewarded with a rest!

“There’s talk about the seven year residential qualification [for England] being reduced to four years, hopefully that will be the case. But honestly, I just want to keep putting in performances for Sussex and let both [West Indies and England] come to me rather than me go to them.”

The morning session had seen Barbados-born Archer have Paul Horton caught behind off a brutal lifter and pin Ned Eckersley leg before with a well-pitched up delivery which beat the batsman for pace.

Colin Ackermann was given out caught behind down the legside off Chris Jordan, but the biggest blow for the home side was the loss of in-form captain Mark Cosgrove, who went back to a delivery from Briggs, missed and was palpably leg before.

Shortly after lunch Pettini got his bat down on an Archer yorker but was unable to prevent the ball rolling back on to his off-stump.

Another quick, straight bouncer then accounted for Harry Dearden, the ball flicking the batsman’s glove on its way through to the wicket-keeper.

Briggs dismissed Tom Wells in extraordinary fashion, putting up his right hand and deflecting a firmly hit lofted straight drive into the air for Archer, at mid-on, to take a simple catch.

Raine edged a straight delivery from Briggs into the hands of Jordan at slip, and Clint McKay, having been horribly dropped by Wiese off Briggs, edged Archer into the slips where Finch held a smart low catch to his left.

Leicestershire’s final pairing of Dieter Klein and Zak Chappell then fought hard to extend the Foxes lead to 241 before Klein was yorked by Archer.

Earlier in the day, Philander and Briggs extended their tenth wicket partnership to 83, a county record for Sussex against Leicestershire, eclipsing the 80 compiled by John Vinsett and Harry Butt at Aylestone Road in 1909.

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